Warp stop-motion for looms.



No. 783.212. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. J. T. MEATS.

WARP STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

J. T. MEATS.

WARP STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w MNH No. 783,212. 7 PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. J. T. MEATS.

WARP STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED 00126. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNTTEE STATES Patented February 21, 1905. I

"ATENT Trice.

JOHN T. MEATS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MASON MACHINE WORKS, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

WARP STOP-MOTION FOR LOOIVIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,212, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed October 26, 1904. Serial No. 230,014.

To (ti/Z whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, JOHN T. MEATS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taunton, county of Bristol, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Warp Stop-Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of a novel warp stop-motion particularly adapted for use on looms, the feeler, which is adapted to cooperate with a released detector, and the means for effecting normal vibration of the feeler possessing novel features of construction, arrangement, and operation; and I have also in the present embodiment of my invention provided for the actuation of loom-stopping means by or through cooperation of the feeler with 'a released detector in either one of a plurality of banks or rows.

The various novel featuresof my invention will be fully described in the subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the claims appended thereto.

Figure 1 is a right-hand side view and partial transverse section of a portion of a loom with .one embodiment of my invention applied thereto, the release of the shipper being effected automatically by or through cooperation of the feeler with a released detector, but directly through the agency of a bunter on a moving part of the loom. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the mechanism shown at the left, Fig. 1, but in readiness to effect shipper release on the beat-up of the lay. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of such parts in normal position illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4c is a detached side view of the knock-off member and the dog'mounted thereon; and Fig. 5 is a detail on the line 5 5, Fig. 3, looking down. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing another arrangement for effecting shipper release more directly from a detector, and a convenient operating device for the feeler is shown. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of the parts shown'at the upper right-hand corner of Figs. 1 and 6 to illustrate the operation of such parts when the loom is running properly and also when a detector is released. Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the rocking carriers for the detectors. Fig. 8 shows a different feeler instrumentality at mid-stroke. Fig. 9 is a view thereof just as the feeler has engaged a released detector. Fig. 10 shows a modification of the feeler instrumentality illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9; and Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly broken out, of means for releasing the shipper directly from the feeler instrumentality shown in Figs. 8, 9, or 10 on either stroke thereof when a released detector is engaged. Fig. 12 is a detail view of the forked end of the transmitting member and the cooperating slotted plate shown in Fig. 11 separated from each other to more clearly illustrate the construction thereof.

The loom sides 1, Figs. 1 and 2, lay 2, and lay-swords 3, one of which is shown in said figures, harnesses Land lease-rods 5 may be and are all of well-known construction, the shipper 6 being shown at the right-hand side of the loom, with its notched holding-plate 7 the notch 7 X being shown in Fig. 5 at the outer end of the plate, so that when the shipper is released it moves toward the center of the loom. Such release of the shipper operates any well-known power-shifting mechanism, forming no part of my invention. A bunter 8 is shown as secured to and projecting forward and downward from the lay, Fig. 1, to at times act upon a dog to be described, and thereby effect the release of the shipper from its holding-notch.

At the back of the loom the sides have rigidly-attached upright brackets 9, Figs. 1, 6, and 7, having bearings for a rock-shaft 10 extended across the loom some distance below the warpthreads, and the upper end of each bracket has oppositely-extended arms 11 in parallelism to the travel of the warps. A

carrier 12 (shown separatelyin Fig. 7) is fulcrumed on each bracket at 13, and a back-rest (shown as a bar 1A) is extended from one to the other carrier and rigidly attached to the same below their fulcra 13, the back-rest having a longitudinal slot therein. Upright notches 16 in the upper part of the carriers receive the ends of two transverse detectorsupports 17, located on opposite sides of an upright extension 18 on each carrier, light springs 8 connecting the extension with the arms 11 of the adjacent bracket. The springs normally center the carriers and parts carried thereby in the position shown in Figs. 1, 6, and 7, stops 19, Fig. 7, on the brackets limiting the swinging movement of the carriers. Stopmotion controlling-detectors or drop devices 20, which may be made of thin flat sheet metal, are longitudinally slotted at 21 to loosely receive the supports 17, each detector having a warp-eye 22 below its slot. The detectors'are shown as located behind and near the leaserods 5, the warp-th reads when intact and properl y taut maintaining the detectors raised; but upon breakage or running out of a thread or undue slackness thereof its detector will be released and will descend, so that the lower end of the same will move across the slot 15 and into the feeler-path. Such movement of a released detector into operative position is permitted by the slot 21, the support 17limiting the drop of the detector in a manner familiar to those skilled in the art.

I have shown two feelers, one for each bank of detectors, each feeler being made as a light rod or stout wire 23, secured at its ends to arms fast on the rock-shaft 10, and at the right-hand side of the looms such arms may be of any suitable character. At the'opposite side of the loom, however, the arms 24 are shown as incurved and forming part of an enlarged extension 25, projecting back of the rock-shaft and provided with upper and lower fulcrum-seats 26 26 Between the said seats a guide-stud 27 projects laterally from the extension and enters a.slot 28 in an actuator 29, shown as a rocking plate having fulcrum-lugs 30 30*, which are adapted to cooperate with the seats 26 26 respectively. (Shown clearly in Fig. 7.) The part of the actuator which is between said lugs and slotted at 28 may be made double to embrace the edge of the extension and prevent relative lateral movement of the extension and actuator. A spring connection between the last-named members is shown at 8X and broken out in Fig. 7 to more clearly disclose the guide-stud 28, the spring connection by its tension normally holding both of the fulcrum-lugs 30 seated. (See full lines, Fig. 7.) Under ordinary circumstances the actuator will swing bodily with the extension 25 and its arms 24 on the rock-shaft 10 as a fulcrum, rocking or vibration of the actuator being effected by or through any suitable moving part of the loom.

Referring to Fig. 6, a link 31 is pivotally connected at one end to a short arm 32 on the actuator, and at its other end'it is jointed at 33 tothe bifurcated end of the weft-hammer 34, the latter being rocked by or through a cam 35 in a well-known manner. As the lower end of the weft-hammer rises and falls the rocker 29 will swing on the rock-shaft 10 as a fulcrum, and the feelers 23 will be moved in alternation into and out of the slot 15 in the back-stop 14. In Figs. 6 and 7 the rear feeler is shown in full lines as just at the end of its detecting stroke, while the front feeler is just about to begin its detecting stroke. A depending leg 36 on the actuator has a stud 37 below and in front of the point of connection of the link 31 and arm 32, said stud being piv otally connected with and controlling the shipper-releasing means, and I will for convenience first describe such means as shown in Fig. 6. A rod 38 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends with thestud 37 and a lever 38, fulcrumed on the loom side at 39 to rock in a vertical plane. To the upper and lower arms ofsaid lever are pivotally connected, respectively, forwardly-extended transmitting-rods 40 41, each having an elongated loop or slot 42 at its front end to loosely receive a pin 43, extended laterally from a knock-off arm 44, shown as fulcrumed at its upper end at 45 on the holding-plate 7 and provided with a long lateral lug 46 to engage the front face of the shipper 6 below said holding-plate. As the actuator and feeler are rocked under normal conditions the lever 38 will be rocked, and the slotted ends of the rods 40 and 41 will slide back and forth freely on the pin 43; but the backward stroke of neither rod will be long enough to operate the knock-off arm. When, however, a feeler is arrested by a released detector, the amplitude of movement of the actuator and the lever 38 is increased, as will be described, and one or the other of the transmitting-rods will operate the knock-off arm, the

rod 41 acting when a detector in the rear bank is released and the rod 40 acting when the released detector is in the front bank. A released detector drops down across the slot 15 in the back-rest 14 and as the corresponding feeler 23 moves toward the back-rest it engages the edge of such detector and causes the back-rest and carriers 12 to swing on the fulcra 13 until engaged by one of the stops 19. This movement of the carriers stretches one of the springs s, and thereby cushions the blow of the feeler on the detector, and the change in the position of the back-rest brings the feeler a little higher on the edge of the detector above the slot 15, so that the strain on the rear bank is released and arrests the feeler, it will be on the rearward stroke of the actuator, and as such stroke is completed said acuator will turn on the fulcrum-lug 30 in the seat 26, stretching the spring 8X and moving substantially into dotted-line position, Fig. 7. Manifestly the leg 36 will be given an additional rearward movement, increasing the throw of thelever38 ,and thereby the rod 41 will pull the knock-off arm 44 rearward, releasing the shipper to effect stoppage of the loom. The additional movement of the actuator will take place relatively to the feelers and the extension of the feeler-arms 24. Of course the link-31 has a uniform length of stroke; but when the fulcrum of the actuator is shifted from 10 to 26 the distance from the fulcrum to the point of connection with the link is decreased 'and the stroke of the actuator Will be amplified for the desired purpose. Should the released detector be in the front bank, the front feeler will be arrested as the actuator is swinging forward, and then the fulcrum will be shifted from rock-shaft 10 to the fulcrum'seat 26 ,and increased movement of said actuator will be effected. Then the rod 38 is moved forward, rocking the lever 38 an increased amount, and the transmitting-rod 41 will act to pull the knock-off arm into operative position to release the shipper. In either case the guidestud 27 serves to steady and guide the actuator when its fulcrum is shifted, the opposite sides of the slot 28 being curved arcs concentric with the fulcrum seats, the spring 8X stretching when the actuator is rocked abnormally and thereafter returning it to normal position relative to the extension 25. At such time the lugs 30 and 30 enter the seats 26 and 26 in the position shown in full lines, Fig. 7, and the apparatus is in readiness for normal operation until another detector is released. When the feeler is disengaged from the arresting-detector, the springs 8 immediately act to,center the carriers and the back-rest, and thereby move the banks of detectors into their normal upright position.

In the arrangement described the shipper release is effected very directly from a released detector; but the release may be effected in such a manner that the cooperation of the detector and feeler operate indirectly 'to attain the desired end.

Referring to Fig. 1, the knock-off arm is fulcrumed at 47 below the holding-plate 7, its upper end being curved over the top of the plate at 48 and having a long lateral extension 49, Figs. 3 and 5, which lies just in front of the shipper when the latter is in the holdingnotch 7 The depending end 50 of the knockoff arm has pivotally mounted thereon at 51 a dog 52, notched at its rear end at 53 to at times be engaged by the bunter 8 on the lay, said dog having two lateral pins 54 and 55 on opposite sides of its fulcrum. A stop-lug 56 is also formed on the side of the dog to engage the lower end of the knock-off arm when the dog isin operative position, Figs. 2 and 4, with its notched end in the path of the hunter 8. A light spring-catch 57 on the knockoff arm normally retains the dog upturned in inoperative position, Figs. 1 and 3. The lug 37 on the leg 36 of the feeler-actuator has connected with it the ends of two transmitting members 58 59, bent to pass through an opening in the adjacent loom side and thence extended forward to present longitudinally-slotted front ends 58 59 the former loosely re ceiving the pin 54, while the pin 55 enters the slotted part 59 From an inspection of Fig. 1 it will be seen that a rearward pull on the pin 54 through the transmitting member 58 will throw the dog down into operative position. and a like result will be secured by a forward push on pin 55 through the member 59. In either case the hunter 8 on the next forward beat of the lay will engage the dog 52 andwill rock the knock-off arm to release the shipper 6 from its holding-notch to effect sto ppage of the loom. Normally the rocking or vibration of the actuator 29 on rock-shaft 10 as a fulcrum is not sufficient to move either member 58 or 59 far enough to operatively position the dog; but when the additional movement is given the actuator by the shifting of its fulcrum, as has been previously explained, one of said transmitting members will be caused to act. If a detector in the rear bank arrests its feeler, the member 58 will operate to position the dog, the other member 59 acting when the released detector is in the front bank. The slotted ends of said members are so arranged with relation to each other that neither interferes with the other when in normal or abnormal action.

In Fig. 2 the dog 52- is shown as positioned by or through the member 58 in readiness to be engaged by the hunter. The work of actually releasing the shipper is in this construction transferred from the detector and cooperating feeler to the hunter and dog, so that the pressure on the arresting-detector is extremely slight, due only to the spring 8X. After loom stoppage the movement of the shipper by hand to running position acts through the extension 49 to set the knock-off arm, and I have provided a separate device to set the dog and restore it to the control of the spring-catch 57. For this purpose a resilient laterally-extended bar 60 is pivotally mounted in a bearing 61 on the shipper and. bent to form a downturned cam portion 62, having substantially a V shape in front elevation, Fig. 3, and curved downward and rearward in side elevation, Fig. 2. When the shipper is in running position, as in Fig. 3, the cam 62 is at the right of the dog, so that the latter can be moved into operative position, as hereinbefore described, the outer end of the bar being bent around the shipper at 63 and held against its rear face by a rather stiff spring 8. When the dog is moved into operative position, as in Fig. 2, the hunter 8 IIO engages it and rocks the knock-off arm to release the shipper, and as the latter moves to the left, viewing Fig. 3, the cam 62 rides up over the front end of the dog, the bar rocking in its bearing 61 as the spring 8 is stretched until the cam moves past the dog and drops into position beyond it. The spring .9 is stretched on the releasing movement of the shipper, because at that time the dog is held from pivotal movement by engagement with the hunter, and the end 63 of said bar, stops its return rotative movement when it engages the rear face of the shipper. The setting device is now in proper position to set the dog when the shipper is moved into running position, the bunter having been disengaged from the dog by backward movement of the lay from front center after shipper release. As the shipper is drawn outward to its notch 7 X it sets the knock-off arm, and the cam 62 wipes over the front end of the dog 52, tilting the latter until the springcatch 57 cooperates therewith, the spring .9 being strong enough to readily overcome any resistance of the dog or connected parts to such setting action.

shipper release.

I will now describe means whereby a single transmitting member can by pulling in one case and pushing in the other case effect shipper release by or through cooperation of a feeler with a released detector in either the front or the rear bank.

The construction of the feeler devices and actuating means may be such as have been already described, or they may have a modified structure, which will be hereinafter described. Referring to Fig. 11, the knock-off member for the shipper 6 is shown as a twotoed cam 64 65 on ashort rock-shaft 66, mounted in the loom side beneath the notched holding-plate 7. and having a depending rigidlyattached arm 67 (see dotted lines,) carrying a lateral stud or pin 68. The toes of the cam extend above and below the rock-shaft, respectively, and bear against the rear face of the shipper when the latter is in running position, Fig. 11, so that when the shaft is rocked in either direction one or the other of .the toes will push the shipper out of its holding-notch. Such rocking of the rock-shaft is effected by means of a single transmitting member 69, pivotally connected at its rear end with the feeler-actuator, as at 70, and having a longitudinal slot 71 at its front end fixed bearings.

to receive the stud 68. I have shown the 7 member 69 in two parts, connectedby a turnbuckle 7 2, so that the length of said member can be readily and accurately adjusted, and as the length of the slot 71 must be exact in order to insure proper operation of the knockofi device on either stroke of the transmitting member I prefer to make the slot adjustable as to length. This is effected by forking the end of member 69, as at 7 3, Figs. 11 and 12, and attaching thereto a long slotted plate 7 4: by a clamp-bolt 75, working in an elongated hole 76 in the end of the member 69. By moving the plate 7 1 in or out the front end of the slot is positioned or adjusted, and the rear end of the slot can be adjusted through the turnbuckle 72. If a detector is released in the rear bank, the additional movement of the actuator to the right, viewing Fig. 11, will cause the transmitting member 69 to pull the arm 67 rearward, and the cam-toe 64 will release the shipper. When the released de tector is in the front bank, the additional movement of the actuator will be to the left, Fig. 11, and the arm 67 will be pushed forward, so that the cam-toe 65 acts to release the shipper. The faces of the cam-toes will in practice be beveled off on one side, so that the movement of the shipper to running position will by wiping over the bevel restore the parts to the normal position shown.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a modified form of carrier for the detectors with suitable cooperating feelers and a feeler-actuator. The carriers 77, one at each end of the connected back-stop 78, are pivotally mounted at 77 X on suitable brackets (not shown) on the loom sides, and rods 79 at the tops of the carriers are extended through the upper slots 80 of the detectors 81, arranged in two banks, as before. The detectors are shown as interposed between the lease-rodS 5, and the warpthreads are drawn through long warp-eyes or slots 82, the normal threads maintaining the detectors lifted, with their lower ends above the paths of the feelers 83, Fig. 8. Said feelers may be rods connected at their ends to branches or arms 84, fixedly mounted on a rock shaft 10*, supported in suitable (Notshown.) The partfrom which the arms branch is extended below the rock-shaft, as at 85, and provided at opposite sides with spring-seats 86. (See dotted lines, Fig. 8.) At one side of the loom an actuator is fulcrumed at 87 on the branched casting above the rock shaft, said actuator being shown as an elongated depending body 88, having opposite arms 89, provided withlaterally-turned lugs 90, socketed to receive the outer ends of springs 8 which at their inner ends are seated in the sockets 86. These springs normally center the actuator with relation to the feeler-carrying arms 84, as shown in Fig. 8, and are strong enough to cause said arms to rock in unison with the actuator, the

latter normally swinging about the shaft 10 as a fulcrum. The transmitting member, as 69, is pivotally connected with the lower end of the actuator at but it will be understood that the transmitting means shown either in Fig. 1 or Fig. 6 may be employed instead of thatillustrated in Fig. 11. Adjustingscrews 91 in the lugs are arranged to bear against the outer ends of the centering-springs 8 to regulate their pressure upon the depending car 85. An arm 92 is extended forward from the actuator just above the arms 89, and to said arm 92 is connected the link 31, which, as shown in Fig. 6, operates the actuator. If a detector in the rear bank is released, as in Fig. 9, then its lower end drops between the back-stop 7 8 and the rear feeler 83, and the latter will be stopped before the actuator 88 has completed its full stroke, the carriers 77 swinging slightly, as has been previously described. WVhen the carriers are stopped, the rotative movement of the rock-shaft 10 is stopped, and as the link 31 completes its movement the fulcrum of the actuator is shifted to the point 87 and an additional movement is given the actuator suflicient to release the shipper. WVhen the actuator is thus swung relatively to the rock-shaft 10 the rear spring .8 will be compressed, and on the engagement of a detector in the front bank by its feeler the additional movement will be imparted to the actuator as it swings forward and the front one of the centering springs will be compressed. There is thus a yielding connection between the actuator and the feeler-supporting means, and the actuator shifts from one fulcrum to another when a released detector is engaged to effect release of the shipper.

I have shown stops 93 in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 to limit the swing of the carriers when a feeler engages a released detector. In Fig. 10 the detectors are shown mounted just as has been described, and the feeler-supporting arms 84:, fast on the rock-shaft 1.0 are similar; but the actuator is somewhat different and is yieldingly connected with said arms differently. The actuator 94 has a long depending body pivotally connected at 95 with the arms 84 and a forwardly-extended rigid arm 96, to which is connected the operatinglink 31. Below the rock-shaft the feeler-arm casting depends a considerable distance, as at 97, and just below it two oppositely-bent and upturned arms 98 are fulcrumed at 99 on the actuator, the extremities of the arms being attached to the end of a spring 8 A pin 100 on each arm is held by the tension of the spring against the adjacent edges of the extension 97 and actuator 94:, so that normally the parts have the relative position shown in Fig. 10, and actuator and feeler-arms will rock on the rock-shaft 1O as a fulcrum. When a detector is released and engaged by a feeler, the rockshaft 1O is stoppcd,while the actuator 94: completes its stroke about the pivot 95 as a fulcrum, giving the additional movement necessary to actuate the shipper-releasing means by or through the transmitting member 69. At such time the spring 8 will be stretched, inasmuch as the extension 97, being held stationary, acts, through one of the pins 100, to hold its arm 98 stationary, while the actuator as it continues its movement acts upon the pin 100 of the other arm and swings the latter on its pivot 99 away from its fellow arm, the spring 8 stretching at such time. When the warp fault is corrected, the spring contracts and returns the parts to normal relative position. (Shown in Fig. 10.)

My invention is not restricted to the precise construction and arrangement shown and described, as the same may be modified or rearranged in different particulars by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a loom, warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors arranged in parallel banks and movable into operative position upon failure of their warp -threads, a rocking actuator directly connected with a moving part of the loom and adapted through achange in its fulcrum to effect on either stroke the operation of a stopping instrumentality, a feelor for each bank of detectors, mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum and means operative by or through engagement of a released detector with its feele r to change the fulcrum of the actuator.

2. In aloom, warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors arranged in parallel banks and movable into operative position upon failure of their warp-threads, a rocking actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom and adapted through abnormal vibration on either stroke to effect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, a feeler to cooperate with a released detector in each bank, a rigid connection between the feelers, a fixed fulcrum on which said connection is mounted to rock, and means operative by or through cooperation of either feeler with a released detector to cause abnormal vibration of the actuator on the corresponding stroke.

3. In a loom, warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors arranged in parallel banks and movable into operative position upon failure of their warp-th reads, a rocking actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom and adapted through increased length of either stroke to elfect the operation of a stopping instrumentality, connected feelers, one for each bank of detectors, and mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum, and means acting upon cooperation of either feeler with a released detector to impart increased length to the'corresponding stroke of the actuator.

4. In a loom, warp-stop-motion-controlling detectors arranged in parallel banks and movable into operative position upon failure of their warp-threads, two connected feelers, one for each bank, mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum, an actuator movable with the feelers as a unit and also adapted to rock relatively thereto in either direction to cause the operation of a stopping instrumentality, and aconnection between the actuator and a moving part of the loom, cooperation of either feeler with a released detector causing the actuator to rock relatively to the feelers and independently of the fulcrum thereof. 7

5. In a loom, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, a fixed fulcrum and two movable fulcra for said actuator, a shipper, releasing means therefor operated by the actuator when movable about either of its movable fulcra, and means operative by or through failure or undue slackness of a warp-thread to shift the movement of the actuator from the fixed fulcrum to either of the movable fulcra and cause release of the shipper.

6. In a loom, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, and adapted through increased movement on either stroke to cause the operation of a stopping instrumentality, and means including a member mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum, operative upon failure of a warpthread to effect such increased movement of the actuator.

7. In a loom, two banks of detectors arranged in parallelism, and maintained inoperative by normal warp-threads, connected feelers arranged to cooperate with a released detector in either bank respectively, a shipper and a releasing device therefor, and a vibrating actuator operatively connected with said device and with the feelers and adapted to rock about a fixed fulcrum or either of two movable fulcra, the actuator and feelers normally moving as a unit, engagement of a feeler with a released detector causing the center of vibration of the actuator to be changed from v the fixed fulcrum to one of the movable fulcra,

to operate the releasing device, the actuator at such time moving relatively to the feelers. 8. In aloom, detectors arranged in two parallel banks and maintained operative by normal warp-threads, cooperating and connected pivotally-mounted feelers, an actuator vibrated by a moving part of the loom, and pivotally connected with the feelers eccentric to the fulcrum thereof, a spring to normally cause the actuator and feelers to rock as a unit on the fulcrum of the latter, a shipper and a releasing device therefor operatively connected with the actuator, engagement of either feeler with a released detector causing the actuator to rock in one direction or the other on its pivotal connection and relatively to the feelers, to thereby operate the releasing dev1ce.

9. In a'loom, detectors arranged in two parallel banks, and maintained operative by normal warp-threads, cooperating and connected feelers mounted to rock ona fixed fulcrum, a vibrating actuator, a pivotal connection between it and the feelers eccentric to the fulcrum of the latter, yielding means to cause the feelers and actuator to rock normally as a unit, on the fixed fulcrum of the feelers, and a shipper-releasing device operatively connected with the actuator, engagement of either feeler with a released detector causing the actuator to rock in one direction or the other on its pivotal connection relatively to the feeler to thereby operate the releasing device.

10. In 'a loom, detectors arranged intwo parallel banks and maintained inoperative by intact warp-threads, a pivotally-mounted backrest interposed between the lower ends of the two banks of detectors and having a feeleropening, connected and oppositely-movable feelers normally movable in alternation into and out of said opening below the detectors, a released detector in either bank engaging the corresponding feeler, and causing the back-rest to swing, whereby upon stoppage of the feeler it engages the detector above the opening in the back-rest, a stop to limit move ment of the latter, and shipper-releasing means operated by or through such arrest of either feeler.

11. In a loom, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, fixed and movable fulcra for said actuator, a shipper, a knock-off device, to cooperate therewith, and release it, transmitting means intermediate said knock-off device and the actuator, and operated by or through abnormal movement of the actuator in either direction, and means including a member mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum operative by or through failure or undue slackness of a warp-thread to shift the vibratory movement of the actuator from the fixed to a movable fulcrum andthereby effect abnormal movement of the actuator and cause release of the shipper.

12. In a loom, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, fixed and movable fulcra for said actuator, a shipper, a knock-off device, to cooperate therewith and release it, transmitting means intermediate said knock-off device and the actuator and operated by or through abnormal movement of the actuator in either direction, means including a member mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum, operative by or through failure or undue slackness of a warpthread to shift the vibratory movement of the actuator from the fixed to a movable fulcrum and thereby effect abnormal movement of the actuator and cause release of the shipper, and means to automatically set the knock-off device when the shipper is moved to running position.

18. In a loom, a lay, having an attached bunter, a shipper, a releasing device therefor, actuated by or through engagement with the hunter, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, fixed and movable fulcra for said actuator, connections between the latter and the knock-off device, to operatively position the same upon abnormal movement of said actuator, and means including a member mounted to rock upon a fixed fulcrum operative by or through failure or undue slackness of a Warp-thread, to shift the movement of the actuator from the fixed to a movable fulcrum, and thereby effect abnormal movement of the actuator.

14. In a loom, a lay, having an attached hunter, a shipper, a releasing device therefor, actuated by or through engagementwith the hunter, an actuator directly connected with and vibrated by a moving part of the loom, fixed and movable fulcra for said actuator, connections between the latter and the knock-off device, to operatively position the same upon to automatically restore the knock-off device to normal position when the shipper is moved to running position.

15. In a loom, detectors arranged in two parallel banks and maintained operative by normal warp-threads, two connected and oppositely-movable feelers mounted to rock on a fixed fulcrum, and to cooperate respectively with a released detector in either bank, an actuator vibrated by a moving part of the loom, and adapted through increased movement to cause the operation of a stopping instrumentality, means to, normally cause the actuator and feelers to vibrate as a unit on the feelerfulcrum, and a pivotal connection between the feelers and the actuator and located eccentric to the feeler-fulcrum, engagement of either feeler with a released detector causing the center of vibration of the actuator to be changed from the feeler-fulcrum to the point of connection between the actuator and feelers, to thereby impart an increased movement to the actuator.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN T. MEATS.

W'itnesses:

FRANK W. BROOKS, HARRY W. FAY. 

